National Republican., 1887-09-02
Virginia Politics.

Virginia Politics
The Alexandra Gd:e.te on more than one
occasion has alluded to the NATIONAL RE.
PUBLICAN MS "Mahone's Washington Or
gen" AS the Gaseite, both through its
correspondent here and In its home
work steals most of its news from the col.
umus Of the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, II can.
not plead ignorance as TO the true position
Of this paper on Virginia affairs, aud II
Toucbstone, that inimitable creation OF
Shakespeare or Lord Bacon, were again
called upon to give the seven gradations
from the "quip modest" by the ''counter
check quarrelsome" to the "lle direct" he
would have to add an eighth one to his
enumeration, 'the lie inferential," so as
to describe the act n the Gd.eue in speak
ing Of the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, as "Ma-
homes Washington organ" Possibly the
public will regard the "lie inferentialn as
told by the Gd=cHe as even II greater Of
fepse against decency than its conduct
when 1t violates the truth by the "lie di.
Iect.n
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN Is neither
"Mahone'sn or any other mans organ, In
Virginia or out OF Virginia. 1t is a Re-
publican newspaper, advocating RepublI-
can principles and the election OF Repu5l-
cans to Office because 1t believes that the
principles of the Republican party are the
correct principles, aud that In the Replbli-
can party can be found men best qualified
to administer the affairs OF the nation and
Of the states.
In discussing Virginia politics the ~,
TIoNAL REPUBLICAN has carefully abstlincl
from any interference where there has been
any differences between republican lea IerS
and Republican factions. Neither Gan.
Malone, nor any one Tor him, can pa. "a
lire in the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, attacking
any Virginia Republican, nor can any Nir-
ginis Republican, nor any other Republican
or Democrat put line IN the NATIONAL RE
PUBLICAN attacking Geu. Malone, Nor ha,
this paper any fight to make Ou any Nlr-
gluia Republican, 1t proposes to "Xpgnd
all its force in fighting VirginiA Democrats,
pausing occasionally to administer tlttln;
castiga'ion to such small fry AS the Al,Xau
dria Gazette.
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN has not been
called into Gen. Mahone's councils nor has
1t desired to be. Had 1t been calleI upon IL
would have advised him az iiust some things
he has done which smack too much OF
personalism and desire to dictate, and
against other things which violate, In ita
opinion, the canons Of good taste. For in.
stance, the address which was issued by th-
Republicans would have commanded more
attention and given greater satisfaction tn
the public IL the names of the entire com
mittee had been appended, indeed 1t would
have been better still to have secured the
signatures Of the newly elected Republican
congressnen and Of other prominent Re-
publicans Of the state. The address was
an admirable document, unanswerable in
its arraignment of the Democracy, and its
strength before the people would have been
much greater had the signatures suggested
been attached.
1t is true that the address was the work
OF a committee, and that Gen. Malone wa
chairman Of tRat committee and signed II
as the organ Of the committee, but that
fact to some extent justiies the Demo
cratic cry Of "Mahoneisn," which trans
lated by them means personal rule, and
this would have been obviated BY having
the committee sign the addresS with the
chairman. But, as before stated, the Ma
TIoSAL REPUBLICAN has not been con
suited by Gen. Malone, and II has not vol
unteered any advice. In treating of Vir-
ginia affairs It has spoken to the party
and given to 1t such counsel as 1t deemed
best. 1t will continue to do that.
Parties must have organization or they
cannot win victories, and the Republican
party in Virginia has placed Gen. Mahon,
at the head Of the party organization. A.
the head OF the party in the state he has
proven himself most capable and sue
cessful leader, largely aiding IN winning tn,
political victories that have been won by tht
party in the state. As successful leader h,
has been most bitterly attacked By thC
Democracy. Had he been like the Chevale
Bayard, "without reproach," aud possesse.
the qualities OF the "Admlrable CrIehton,' >
the Democracy would stlll have asballet
him, as they would have aSsailcd Him IL
whom the Roman governor declared h,
could find no wrong, If lie should venture
into Virginia and oppose its Democrats.
Gen. Mahoue's methods may not suit al
the Republicans Of Virginia; possibly they
do not. But the remedy lies with the Re
publicans when the proper time arrives
Political suicide is not the remedy. 1t /
said that Gen. Malone uses the party ma
chinery to further his personal ambition
and secure his own personal preferment
This may be so. But do the men In tn,
party who have personal ambitions thel
would like to crafty think that the sures
and best road to do so is to destroy the part,
In the state' Would 1t not be better 70
them all to unite with Gen. Malone ant
secure the victory before quarrellng owe
the division Of the offices
Cameron, Blair, Wise, Mcdonald, or an.
of dozen other Republicans in VIrgini
would make good United States senator
The only advantage Gen Malone has owe
any Of these gentlemen is that he has had eX